A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sam Ohuabunwa, has revealed the only solution to the rift between the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Ohuabunwa said the only solution to the crisis is for the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to resign.
He asked Ayu to honour his words during his emergence as the party’s chairman that he would resign if the party chooses a Northerner as a presidential candidate.
The former presidential aspirant asked Ayu to sacrifice his position for the unity of the party, adding that the prolonged rift between Atiku and Wike is a distraction for the PDP ahead of the 2023 polls.
Ohuabunwa asserted that the inability of the party to settle the conflict shows a lack of conflict resolution capacity.
He said: “I see him as a man of honour. If that is what he said, then he should follow the path of honour.
“Even if he didn’t say it, if he is the leader of the party who has brought us to this point, he should make the sacrifice. Do what needs to be done and make sure Nigerians are happy with the PDP, members of PDP are happy.
“If he needs to step down for that to happen, he should do so. We need to unify the party.”
Recall that Ayu had reportedly agreed to resign when he was elected as Chairman last year if the party chooses a Northerner as a presidential candidate.
After the emergence of Atiku as the party’s presidential flagbearer, it was expected that Ayu would honour his word and exit the seat for a Southerner as part of efforts to manage zoning within the PDP.
It is understood that Ayu’s resignation is also a condition given by Wike for peace talks to succeed with Atiku.
However, the PDP chairman has maintained he has no intention of resigning.
This article was originally published on Naija News